Delayed transmission of website usage data

Abstract

User behavior on a website, including intra-page interactions, are tracked while avoiding the need to transmit each intra-page interaction to the data collection server via a separate request. Client-side code instructs the client to store intra-page interaction data in a local data store such as a cookie file. The client transmits the accumulated data to the data collection server in response to a triggering event. For example, data may be transmitted when a new page is loaded, or when the web browser application crashes or is terminated, or when the client machine is turned off, or at periodic intervals, or in response to any other type of triggering event.

1 . A method of collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 displaying the web page;    detecting a first event;    locally storing, at a client, a description of the first event;    detecting a second event;    locally storing, at the client, a description of the second event;    responsive to a third event, transmitting to a data collection server, the descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 locally storing a description of the first event comprises storing the description in a cookie file; and    locally storing a description of the second event comprises storing the description in the cookie file.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 locally storing a description of the first event comprises storing the description in a cookie file; and    locally storing a description of the second event comprises appending the description to the cookie file.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 locally storing a description of the first event comprises storing the description in a first cookie file; and    locally storing a description of the second event comprises storing the description in a second cookie file.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 detecting a first event comprises detecting a first user action with respect to an element of the web page; and    detecting a second event comprises detecting a second user action with respect to an element of the web page.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 detecting a first event comprises detecting a first intra-page interaction; and    detecting a second event comprises detecting a second intra-page interaction.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 at least one of the first and second events comprises a cursor movement.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web page is associated with a first domain, and wherein the third event comprises a request for a web page associated with a second domain.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third event comprises expiry of a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third event comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 
 termination of a client application;    shutdown of the client;    explicit user command;    explicit directive received from the server;    explicit directive received from another source;    launch of a client application after it has been previously terminated;    re-establishment of a network connection following a loss; and    re-establishment of power following an outage.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating the detecting and storing steps until the third event is detected.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third event comprises storage of a predetermined number of event descriptions.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 responsive to the third event, deleting the locally stored descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 responsive to an indication that the transmitted descriptions have been received, deleting the locally stored descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         16 . A method of collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 displaying the web page;    detecting a first event;    locally storing, at a client, a description of the first event;    responsive to a second event, transmitting to a data collection server, the description of the first event.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 locally storing a description of the first event comprises storing the description in a cookie file.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 detecting a first event comprises detecting an intra-page interaction.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         20 . A method of collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 displaying the web page;    periodically performing the steps of: 
 collecting coordinates for an on-screen cursor; and  
 locally storing the coordinates at a client; and  
   responsive to a trigger event, transmitting to a data collection server, the stored coordinates.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 locally storing the coordinates comprises storing the coordinates in a cookie file.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the trigger event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         23 . A computer program product for collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium; and    computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: 
 displaying the web page;  
 detecting a first event;  
 locally storing, at a client, a description of the first event;  
 detecting a second event;  
 locally storing, at the client, a description of the second event;  
 responsive to a third event, transmitting to a data collection server, the descriptions of the first and second events.  
   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for locally storing a description of the first event comprises computer program code for storing the description in a cookie file; and    the computer program code for locally storing a description of the second event comprises computer program code for storing the description in the cookie file.    
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for locally storing a description of the first event comprises computer program code for storing the description in a cookie file; and    the computer program code for locally storing a description of the second event comprises computer program code for appending the description to the cookie file.    
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for locally storing a description of the first event comprises computer program code for storing the description in a first cookie file; and    the computer program code for locally storing a description of the second event comprises computer program code for storing the description in a second cookie file.    
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for detecting a first event comprises computer program code for detecting a first user action with respect to an element of the web page; and    the computer program code for detecting a second event comprises computer program code for detecting a second user action with respect to an element of the web page.    
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for detecting a first event comprises computer program code for detecting a first intra-page interaction; and    the computer program code for detecting a second event comprises computer program code for detecting a second intra-page interaction.    
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 at least one of the first and second events comprises a cursor movement.    
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the third event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the web page is associated with a first domain, and wherein the third event comprises a request for a web page associated with a second domain.  
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the third event comprises expiry of a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the third event comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 
 termination of a client application;    shutdown of the client;    explicit user command;    explicit directive received from the server;    explicit directive received from another source;    launch of a client application after it has been previously terminated;    re-establishment of a network connection following a loss; and    re-establishment of power following an outage.    
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , further comprising computer program code for repeating the detecting and storing steps until the third event is detected.  
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the third event comprises storage of a predetermined number of event descriptions.  
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: 
 responsive to the third event, deleting the locally stored descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: 
 responsive to an indication that the transmitted descriptions have been received, deleting the locally stored descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         38 . A computer program product for collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium; and    computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: 
 displaying the web page;  
 detecting a first event;  
 locally storing, at a client, a description of the first event;  
 responsive to a second event, transmitting to a data collection server, the description of the first event.  
   
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for locally storing a description of the first event comprises computer program code for storing the description in a cookie file.    
     
     
         40 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for detecting a first event comprises computer program code for detecting an intra-page interaction.    
     
     
         41 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the second event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         42 . A computer program product for collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium; and    computer program code, encoded on the medium, for: 
 displaying the web page;  
 periodically performing the steps of: 
 collecting coordinates for an on-screen cursor; and  
 locally storing the coordinates at a client; and  
 
 responsive to a trigger event, transmitting to a data collection server, the stored coordinates.  
   
     
     
         43 . The computer program product of  claim 42 , wherein: 
 the computer program code for locally storing the coordinates comprises computer program code for storing the coordinates in a cookie file.    
     
     
         44 . The computer program product of  claim 42 , wherein the trigger event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         45 . A system for collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 a display screen, for displaying the web page;    a user input device, for detecting a first event and for detecting a second event;    a client-based storage device, coupled to the user input device, for locally storing a description of the first event and for locally storing a description of the second event;    a network interface, coupled to the storage device, for responsive to a third event, transmitting to a data collection server, the descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the client-based storage device comprises a cookie file.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the first event comprises a first intra-page interaction; and    the second event comprises a second intra-page interaction.    
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 at least one of the first and second events comprises a cursor movement.    
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the third event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the web page is associated with a first domain, and wherein the third event comprises a request for a web page associated with a second domain.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the third event comprises expiry of a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the third event comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 
 termination of a client application;    shutdown of the client;    explicit user command;    explicit directive received from the server;    explicit directive received from another source;    launch of a client application after it has been previously terminated;    re-establishment of a network connection following a loss; and    re-establishment of power following an outage.    
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the user input device continues to detect events and the storage device continues to store descriptions of the events the third event is detected.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the third event comprises storage of a predetermined number of event descriptions.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 responsive to the third event, the storage device deletes the locally stored descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 responsive to an indication that the transmitted descriptions have been received, the storage device deletes the locally stored descriptions of the first and second events.    
     
     
         57 . A system for collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 a display screen, for displaying the web page;    a user input device, for detecting a first event;    a client-based storage device, coupled to the user input device, for locally storing a description of the first event;    a network interface, coupled to the storage device, for responsive to a second event, transmitting to a data collection server, the description of the first event.    
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the client-based storage device comprises a cookie file.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein: 
 the first event comprises an intra-page interaction.    
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the second event comprises a request for a new web page.  
     
     
         61 . A system for collecting and transmitting data describing user behavior on a web page, comprising: 
 a display screen, for displaying the web page;    a user input device, for periodically collecting coordinates for an on-screen cursor;    a client-based storage device, coupled to the user input device, for locally storing the coordinates; and    a network interface, coupled to the storage device, for responsive to a trigger event, transmitting to a data collection server, the stored coordinates.    
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the storage device comprises a cookie file.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the trigger event comprises a request for a new web page.